Confirmed: War Horse will tour in 2013

It was announced last November that the five time Tony Award and two time Olivier Award winning play War Horse would premiere in Australia at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne on New Year’s Eve this year.

After months of speculation, producers Global Creatures and The National Theatre of Great Britain today confirmed that the all-Australian cast will also play seasons in Sydney and Brisbane in 2013.

The Lyric Theatre, Sydney will host War Horse’s NSW debut from March 23 and Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre QPAC will house the production from 11 July 2013.

Carmen Pavlovic, CEO of Global Creatures realised the demand for the production nation wide.

“Global Creatures is thrilled to extend the War Horse dates into Sydney and Brisbane, there is already tremendous excitement right around the country about one of the world’s most celebrated productions coming to Australia.”

The all-Australian cast are expected to commence rehearsals in September this year. This three month rehearsal period is unusual in the business of Australian theatre (the brand new productions of Love Never Dies and An Officer and a Gentleman rehearsed for less than two months before opening), but it is understood that learning to work with the puppets which are strong enough for men to ride is not an easy process.

Associate Puppetry Director Finn Caldwell told AussieTheatre’s Emily Paddon-Brown last year that training for puppeteering in this show is incredibly rigorous. He also mentioned that the task it is too physically demanding for puppeteers to perform eight shows a week, so four rotating teams perform the two main horse characters.

“It’s a bit like training a sports team,” said Caldwell.

A testament to the popularity of this award winning production was the stunning and unique salute Joey, the star of War Horse, gave Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as she sailed down the Thames in the Jubilee River Pageant last month.

Audiences in NSW and QLD can book tickets to War Horse from next week.

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

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